MASL Announces 2026 Ron Newman Cup Playoff Format

Nov 24, 2025 15 Views MASL

The Major Arena Soccer League has officially unveiled the playoff structure for the 2026 Ron Newman Cup. The 2025–26 campaign will feature eight teams competing in a single-table format, beginning Friday, November 28, 2025, and concluding Sunday, March 29, 2026.

Playoff Qualification

The top six teams in the standings will advance to the 2026 Ron Newman Cup Playoffs. The top two seeds will earn a first-round bye. Seeding (1–6) is based on total points at the end of the regular season and will remain unchanged throughout the quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship series.

Quarterfinals

Each quarterfinal matchup is a home-and-home series. If the teams are tied with one win each after two games, a knockout Game 3 will be played.

#4 Seed vs. #5 Seed
#3 Seed vs. #6 Seed

Semifinals

Winners from the quarterfinals advance to face the top two seeds:

#1 Seed vs. Winner of #4/#5
#2 Seed vs. Winner of #3/#6

Ron Newman Cup Championship Series

The championship will feature a best-of-three series between the semifinal winners. Teams will work with the league office to schedule a full Game 3 if necessary, based on arena availability. If dates cannot be secured or the teams cannot agree, the decisive third game will shift to a single knockout match predetermined before the series begins.

MASL Shield

The MASL Shield will be awarded to the club with the highest point total during the 2025–26 regular season.

MASL Points System

Standings will follow the league’s 3-2-1 format:

3 points for a regulation win
2 points for an overtime or shootout win
1 point for an overtime or shootout loss
0 points for a regulation loss

Tiebreakers

If teams finish level on points, the following tiebreakers will determine the standings order:

Wins in regulation time
Total wins
Head-to-head results
Goal differential
Goals scored
Goals allowed

About the Major Arena Soccer League

The Major Arena Soccer League is the premier professional indoor soccer league in the world, featuring franchises across North America and players representing more than 50 countries. The league operates as a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the sport and business of indoor soccer.